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Pain Management Flashcards

7 cards from real PSA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. A patient on long-term oral morphine develops refractory constipation. Which laxative class is most appropriate?

    Answer: Stimulant (senna)

    Stimulant laxatives such as senna are first-line for opioid-induced constipation because they directly stimulate colonic motility.

  2. A patient with eGFR 15 ml/min requires opioid analgesia for cancer pain. Which opioid is most appropriate?

    Answer: Fentanyl

    Fentanyl is preferred in severe renal impairment because its metabolites are not renally excreted and do not accumulate to cause toxicity.

  3. An adult weighing 48 kg is prescribed paracetamol for post-operative pain. What is the maximum safe single dose?

    Answer: 720 mg

    For patients weighing less than 50 kg, the maximum single dose of paracetamol is 15 mg/kg, giving 720 mg for a 48 kg adult.

  4. Which drug combination carries the highest risk of serotonin syndrome?

    Answer: Tramadol + amitriptyline

    Tramadol inhibits serotonin reuptake, and combined with amitriptyline (which also has serotonergic activity), the risk of serotonin syndrome is significantly increased.

  5. A patient is prescribed MST Continus 30 mg twice daily. What is the correct breakthrough (PRN) morphine dose?

    Answer: 10 mg

    The PRN breakthrough dose should be one-sixth of the total daily opioid dose; 60 mg/day divided by 6 equals 10 mg.

  6. A patient stabilised on warfarin requires analgesia for headache. Which analgesic should be avoided?

    Answer: Aspirin 600 mg

    Aspirin inhibits platelet aggregation and can displace warfarin from protein binding, significantly increasing bleeding risk.

  7. A post-operative patient on morphine infusion has a respiratory rate of 7 breaths/min. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

    Answer: Titrate naloxone 40–100 mcg IV every 2 minutes

    Naloxone should be titrated in small incremental doses to reverse respiratory depression while avoiding precipitating acute withdrawal and severe pain.